At least once a week, I argue with one person or another, telling them that painting is not magic. It is a learnable skill.

1. The would-be painter needs to learn some drawing basics, and again, that is no more mysterious than learning how to type. Mere drawing and painting are technical skills, like typing or riding a bicycle.  Anyone can master the skills of drawing and painting. Drawing and Painting are to visual art what the ABC’s are to writing.  They are the external stuff that an artist uses to express that greater thing–the artist’s essence
2. The would-be painter also needs to learn to listen to his intuition. A painter’s intuition is the vehicle that connects the artist to his essence or his center, where his art lies.  Although a painter may have completely buried his intuition, it is still inside himself, and finishing paintings in no more than 20 strokes is one way to harness that intuition. It does that by cutting out all the extra fluff. 

Sunflowers in a Black and White Vase – Jacki Kellum Acrylic Painting Study Completed in 20 Strokes-  Painted on January 16, 2021

I’ll Tell You How I Did the Above Painting:

1. I began with the dark pools of yellow. I painted all the darker yellow pools in 3 strokes.
2. I mixed Cadmium Yellow Medium Paint with Cadmium Orange and Magenta, and I loaded my brush with as much paint as possible.
3. I painted the first swirl of dark yellow by painting a stroke until I ran out of paint. I did that again for the other 2 dark yellow swirls.
4. I looked at my painting sources closely until I figured out where the yellow highlights were, and I applied those in 3 strokes.
5. After that, I painted the dark greens then the light greens.
6. I added a blue-grayed background.
7. I painted the blacks within the vase.
8. Finally, I painted the whites.

Last night, at Art Crawl 2025, I finally dared to frame and exhibit My Quick Painting of Sunflowers in a Black and White Vase–and she sold!

Thanks to Every Person who visited my studio last night for Art Crawl 2025 in Water Valley, Mississippi–a miraculous experience. I prayed that I’d have a few folks drop by. I received an outpouring that was beyond my wildest imagination. The studio was full all night, and the lookers bought! Art!  Better still — several things sold that truly surprised me!

For instance, my cartoon illustration of Mrs. Cow Down on the Farm sold. I have loved that painting for several years. In fact, I say that Mrs. Cow is Me, and people chuckle with me. But I never dreamed that anyone would be deighted enough to buy this breach of “normal” art. But someone did. I am thankful that someone dear to me has carried Mrs. Cow home to live with her.

And I have long loved the sunflowers I painted in under 5 minutes. I was stunned that someone shared with me my love of this “quickie,” but they did.

Again, I do contour drawings in ink to warm up for painting. I could not believe the number of these quick studies that sold. I feel like people have loved me and my art–warts and all, and I treasure that acceptanc.

Other things sold, too, but I was surprised when folks also bought the untraditional parts of my artist being. I feel hugely blessed, and I love everyone who participated in my delightful evening.

I call the people who helped me get this event together my Angels from God.

Thank You. Amen..